History

The Treaty Three Police Service is a self-administered Policing entity under the First Nations Policing Program in Canada and is responsible for full policing duties spanning 55,000 square miles of the Greater Treaty Three Region in Northwestern Ontario. This includes approximately 20,000 local residents in 23 First Nation Communities. Over our proud 13 year history we have evolved from our inception in 2003 starting with only 23 Officers, into Canada’s second largest First Nation Policing Organization with a sworn Member compliment of 86 Officers and 21 Civilian Staff Members (not including guards and Matrons). With such rapid growth, expansion and constant Organizational change, our Service has had to evolve and adapt in many ways to continue providing an exceptional level of Policing to the Communities we serve.

A new era of Policing For the People By the People.

Treaty Three Police Service Territory Map

Treaty Three Territory encompasses 55,000 square miles in Northwestern Ontario and partially into South Eastern Manitoba.

Treaty Three Police Service provides service to 23 of the 28 First Nation communities in the Treaty #3 Territory.

The following communities are not policed by the Treaty Three Police Service: Lac Des Mille Lacs; Lac Seul; Saugeen; Sagkeeng and Buffalo Point.

Feasting of our Sacred Items

The Feasting of our Sacred Items, the Drum, the Eagle Staff, the Pipe and our Flags, is a time honoured tradition that is carried out twice a year; once in the Fall and once in the Spring. The essence of the Feast is to express our gratitude for our Sacred Items, as well as to celebrate having a renewed spirit and energy for another Season. It is our way of saying “Thank you”. Celebrating in this way with one another helps give us strength throughout the year to continue the valuable work we all do.

Traditional Protocols

At the start of the ceremony, an Elder will be asked to give a special blessing and prayer for the food, for the welfare and well-being of the people and appreciation for the ceremony. A helper will take a sample of all available food brought and place it into small birch bark baskets called offerings. The food offering dish will be taken to a clean place for offering to the spirits for their blessings.

There are usually 4 songs that will be sung at the drum, each song has an intended purpose. The first song is to open the ceremony, the second is the Pipe song to recognize the sacred items and the food offerings, the third song is in recognition of everyone’s attendance and the last song is the giveaway/travelling song. The singing and drumming will not necessarily be done one right after the other; it will be throughout the Feast.

Giveaways are gifts offered to those in attendance to honour them and say “Thank you” for coming to our Feast and in that way, for bringing their spirit, energy and physical presence to the celebration.

THE DRUM is the voice of the Anishinaabe People. Our drum came to us as a result of a dream from a Big Grassy Elder. It is an Okichida Drum to assist our First Nation Police Officers in performing their day to day duties; to support them spiritually to give them strength.

THE PIPE The spirit of the pipe is powerful and brings many teachings to the people. The Midawin teachings tell us the creator who is all powerful and all loving works through the pipe. The stone or the bowl represents our Grandfathers. The tobacco that is placed in it comes from the earth to represent our Mother Earth. The fire represents movement in life. The smoke is representative of the spirit that takes the prayers to the Creator of all things.

THE EAGLE STAFF The Treaty Three Police Eagle Staff has 23 eagle feathers representing the 23 First Nations communities we serve. The Eagle Staff symbolizes strength and protection of the Treaty Three Police Officers and the communities they service.

This is what my design means to me and how it represents the Treaty #3 Police service:

Treaty #3: The eagle represents the police service with its wings covering as to protect our people, land and homes. The red sun stands for a circle of friendship and life and the bear stands for justice.

Myself: To me what I think it stands for is life the will to live free and friendship for us to get along with one another and the best hope for our future to get along and have no more worries.

By: Douglas Cameron

On behalf of all Treaty Three Police Service Officers and Civilian support staff, we are pleased to present to you our newly constructed Website. Every effort has been made to create a user friendly site that aims to answer your most relevant questions and keeps you up to date on the latest news you need to stay informed and stay safe.